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George B. Selden

American engineer and inventor

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George B. Selden was an American engineer and inventor who is recognized for his contributions to the early automotive industry. He filed a patent application for the automobile in 1879, though he did not build a working vehicle at that time. This patent was kept pending for 16 years, leading to a significant legal battle with the Association of Licensed Automobile Manufacturers. In 1911, the courts ruled that his patent was valid but not infringed upon by Ford. While Selden's patent was controversial, the development of the gasoline engine in the 1860s and 1870s, primarily in France and Germany, laid the groundwork for the automotive industry.12

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